Page 61 of A Lot Like Adiós
“And how many times did you make me watchScarface?”
“Touché.”
She closed the dishwasher and turned it on, then moved to the sink to rinse her hands.
“And yes,” he heard her mutter, barely audible over the sound of running water. “It is somePretty Womanshit.”
Chuckling, he came up behind her and slipped his fingers under the hem of her shirt, skimming them up her ribs to tease the undersides of her breasts.
“Don’t start something you can’t finish,” she warned. “We don’t have any condoms, remember?”
“Hmm. Right.”
It was Thursday. He was leaving later the next day. They hadn’t made a ton of progress on the campaign—or at least, he hadn’t. Hell, he couldn’t even decide which of the five locations he liked best. Michelle’s laptop was already open on the dining table, surrounded by a slew of fancy pens and pencils he wasn’t allowed to use and a sketch pad he wasn’t allowed to look at. Meanwhile, the worksheet she’d given him Tuesday was still only halfway done.
He heard the slam of a car door and sneaked into the living room to peer out the window. Through the lace curtains, he could just make out the form of his father sitting in the SUV parked in his parents’ driveway. The car started, then backed out and took off down the street.
Gabe went to the kitchen doorway. “My dad just left. I can run to the pharmacy for condoms if you give me your car keys.”
“What?” She looked up from the laptop screen and blinked at him. “Oh. The key fob. It’s in my bag.”
She pointed at the red purse sitting on the kitchen counter and he sifted through at least half a dozen lipstick tubes before he found what he was looking for.
“Can you pick up one of those presentation boards for me?” she asked. “I want to put together a mood board.”
“A—” He didn’t even know where to begin with all of that. “Never mind. Sure, I’ll get it. Is the big pharmacy still on Williamsbridge Road? The one where you used to get pictures printed?”
“Yeah.” Her smile was a little wistful, although he didn’t know why. “It’s still there.”
After peeking out the kitchen window to make sure his mom was still sweeping the backyard next door, Gabe hurried out the front door, down the stairs, and into Michelle’s car. He was wearing his Yankees cap and dark sunglasses, but he knew what this neighborhood was like. If anyone saw a strange man running in and out of the Amato house, there was a good chance they’d report it to Michelle’s parents.
He started the car and navigated to the drugstore like he hadn’t been gone for nearly a decade. People had a certain image of New York City, like it was all glass and steel skyscrapers, populated by businesspeople and models. In reality, the outer boroughs were all a collection of neighborhoods, a mix of houses and buildings, corporate brand stores and mom-and-pops, and home to families who’d called the city home for generations.
Morris Park had changed in the years he’d been gone, but in so many ways, it was still the same.
The drugstore had a sizable parking lot attached. Gabe found a spot near the entrance and pulled in. As he was getting out of the car, his phone buzzed. He checked it, thinking maybe Michelle had forgotten to ask something. But it was Fabian.
Fabian:EMERGENCY
Gabe:What’s wrong?
Fabian:Everything. AC is out. Ventilation system down. Lights flickering.
Fuck. Gabe took a deep breath and ran through each problem in his head, lining it up with a solution.
Gabe:Hold on. Sending numbers for repair services.
Gabe scrolled through his phone’s contacts as he walked, glancing up every so often to make sure he was heading the right way. After he’d sent Fabian the info for the electrician and the HVAC, he found the condoms in an aisle near the pharmacy counter, a full shelving unit of brightly colored boxes with names that didn’t actually describe anything useful.
It had been years since he’d had to buy condoms for himself. For one thing, he was too busy to need them often. The gym also kept free Agility-branded condoms in the locker rooms formembers to take. He had a whole stash at his apartment, yet hadn’t thought to bring a single one with him to New York.
Before he could even begin to make a decision, his phone buzzed again with more incoming texts from Fabian. Gabe peered at the screen to look at the pictures Fabian had sent, but couldn’t see them well. He tore off the shades to take a better look. Water... some kind of leak. Fuck, he was going to have to call and help troubleshoot from here. He shot off a quick text.
Gabe:Don’t touch it. Will call in a minute.
He slipped the phone into his pocket and examined the dazzling array of condom boxes. There were too many fucking choices, and he had to get out of here. He picked up a couple to read the labels. What the hell was the difference between Ecstasy and Double Ecstasy? Was there a Triple Ecstasy option, and if not, why not? Where did the ecstasy end? Did it go all the way to infinity?
He was sure Michelle would have something pithy and insightful to say about the branding.Notice the way the logo’s helmet resembles a dickhead, thus revealing the brand’s core values!
